LINVILLE — North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper traveled to Grandfather Mountain State Park on Thursday, Oct. 31, to highlight the importance of supporting Western North Carolina’s tourism industry in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
“Today I visited beautiful Grandfather Mountain State Park in Avery County and traveled to Banner Elk to see areas that were damaged during Helene,” said Governor Cooper. Cooper toured Grandfather Mountain, where he made his way across the famous Swinging Bridge before speaking to assembled media.
“Tourism is a critical part of Western North Carolina’s economy, and there are still many wonderful spots in the region open and accepting visitors,” said Cooper.
The governor’s visit was orchestrated to help get the word out to citizens across the state of North Carolina and urge them to support these areas during this time, as business is crucial for businesses in the High Country to progress and move forward post-Helene.
“Some roads are closed because they are too damaged and dangerous to travel. Other roads still need to be reserved for essential traffic like utility vehicles, construction equipment and supply trucks. However, some parts of the area are open and ready to welcome visitors, which is critical for the revival of Western North Carolina’s economy. If you are considering a visit to the area, consult DriveNC.gov for open roads and reach out to the community and businesses you want to visit to see if they are welcoming visitors back yet,” Cooper stated.